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Shr Baily liar Hrrl UNIVERSITY BRIEFS Doctor's work on AIDS brings reward, recognition Myron S. Cohen, a UNC doc tor, won the prestigious O. Max Gardner award from the UNC Board of Governors for his work in advancing HIV’ research, treat ment and prevention in countries around the world. He and his colleagues have built and sustained research and medi cal training projects in resource poor countries such as Malawi, China, the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Africa and Russia, as well as the United States. The 2008 award was accompa nied by a $20,000 cash prize. Faculty elects new leaders; increases voter turnout The UNC faculty held its annu al election to fill one third of the roughly 90 seats of the University’s Faculty Council. Of the 3,428 faculty members eligible to vote, 800 submitted bal lots. This proportion represents a significant upturn in voter turnout after only 14 percent voted in 2007. Votes increased by about 40 per cent this year. Biology chairman tapped as graduate school dean Steve Matson, chair of the biol ogy department, has been selected to become the dean of the graduate school, effective July 1. Matson has been a member of the UNC faculty since 1983 and researched extensively in the fields of genetics and molecular biology . He will oversee the approxi mately 8,000 graduate students in Carolina's 66 doctoral and 100 master's programs. CITY BRIEFS Board positions now open for Downtown Partnership The Chapel Hill Dow-ntown Partnership Board of Directors announced open board positions for the 2008-2009 fiscal year. Available positions include one three-year at-large position and one two-year downtown business owner position. Both are appointed bv the Chapel Hill Town Council. The board will also fill one one vear, one two-year and one three year at-large positions. The posi tions' terms will begin July 1. Chapel Hill hats and other memorabilia on sale now The Town of Chapel Hill now offers baseball caps for purchase. Each cap costs S2O. Caps can be purchased at the Revenue Collection Window on the first flixir of Town Hall. 405 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Chapel Hill history books and lapel pins are available for pur chase at the same location. STATE BRIEFS N.C. General Assembly goes back to work for 2 weeks The North Carolina General Assembly reconvened for its short session Tuesday. Legislators will spend the ses sion working on the state budget. Experts expect there to be few other weighty issues discussed in this session in order to ensure that the budget is dealt with. Gov. Mike Easley announced his own budget Monday. UNC Board of Governors presents perennial awards The UNC Board of Governors selected 17 of its most outstand ing faculty to receive the 14th Annual Awards for Excellence in Teaching. During a recognition luncheon at the board's May 9 meeting, a faculty member from each UNC campus received a commemora tive bronze medallion and a $7,500 cash prize. Kevin Stewart, a geology pro fessor with a doctorate from the University of California-Berkeley, was granted the award for UNC- Chapel Hill. This marks the first year that an instructor from the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics has been recognized with the award. In 2007, the General Assembly declared NCSSM, which had pre viously been an affiliate of the University, a constituent institution. New UNC faculty members trek across N.C. on bus tour From May 12-16,36 participants in the 11th Tar Heel Bus Tour will travel more than 1,100 miles, from Morehcad City in the east to Cherokee in the west At stops along the way, new UNC faculty will leam more about their students' hometowns and meet people involved in programs and projects with a UNC connection. From stuff'and tcirc reports Big win keeps Clinton afloat BY DEVIN ROONEY STATE NATIONAL EDITOR Hillary Clinton's definitive victo ry over Barack Obama in Tuesday's West Virginia primary is a step in the right direction for her campaign, and a feat she will need to replicate in most of the remaining contests in order to have a reasonable chance at the Democratic nomination. Clinton's win, with more than two-thirds of the vote, in West Virginia follows her narrow win in the May 6 Indiana primary, which her campaign has tried to amplify in the public eye to dampen the resonance of Obama's solid win in the same day’s N.C. primary. The mixed results from May 6 meant she was able to carry on a campaign, said Ferrel Guillory, director of the UNC Program on Public Life. “Her win in Indiana, slim as it was. gave her just enough of a margin to continue campaigning." he said. Because Indiana and North ||yfl ■ | Be. m Bra’ DTH/RACHEL RODEMANN Chancellor James Moeser was in high spirits at Sunday's commencement ceremony, despite the rain that poured for its entirety. He cheerfully congratulated the class of 2008, adding that he is 'graduating' with the seniors and will leave his position at the end of June. LET THE RAIN FALL 15,000 attend soggy, shortened ceremony BY ANIKA ANAND STAFF WRITER Multicolored umbrellas shielding the new UNC graduates interrupted the usual sea of Carolina blue at Sunday’s commencement. The poor weather initially created some confusion among UNC administrators, grad uates and parents. The ceremony, scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m„ was pushed back to 10 a.m. But students were undeterred as they stood outside the entrance gates of Kenan Stadium wait ing to be officially named UNC alumni. ONLINE For a photo slideshow of the rain-soaked graduates, visit dailytarheel.com. “This sucks," senior Elliot Greenwald said, “But it’s okay... we’ve had good enough weather for the past four years to make up for it." In the first words of the last speech he made as UNC’s chancellor, James Moeser said, “I will always identify- with the class of Covenant alumni reap benefits BY SARAH HENDERSON STAFF WRITER When the first class of Carolina Covenant scholars graduated Sunday, they became the first class to live out the promise of the pro gram, which guarantees that low income students can graduate from college debt-free. By combining federal, state and institutional funds with money provided by the family, low-income students can go to college without taking out a single loan. “Asa designed feature of the program, we make it possible so students don’t have to," said Shirley Ort, associate provost and director of the office of scholarships and student aid. She said that sometimes it is in the student's interest to borrow money, for example, if they want to study abroad and the program is more expensive. "Only four students in the first year of the program, out of the total 22*, had to borrow," Ort said. “And in the second year, only 30 among both classes had to borrow. There has been very limited borrowing Top News Carolina were the last of the big number states, Obama's lead in pledged delegates will be increas ingly difficult to overcome for Clinton. ‘I think her loss in North Carolina did deal a rather severe blow to her prospects,' Guillory said. What Clinton needs most, in Guillory's view, is a game changer, something she was hoping for in North Carolina. “She campaigned in North Carolina, with a call on North Carolina voters to vote for her because the state could be a game changer, w-hat she meant was the clear implication was that a vote for Hillary Clinton, if she could score an upset in North Carolina, that would change the nature of the contest," he said. Meanwhile the Obama cam paign has shifted gears. Obama has begun campaigning with an eye on the general elec- 2008. for 1 am graduating with you." But even in the rainy weather. Moeser kept a sense of humor. “This may be the shortest commencement exercise in the history of the University ," he said, followed by cheers and laughter from an anxious audience of about 15,000. He moved directly into the conferral of degrees and gave new graduates some last words of wisdom. “Graduates, this is my charge to you and to myself as well: Let us heed the magic, let us take one more deep drink from the Old Well listen to the call, answer the bell and, as often as we can, let us come home again." Other speakers, including the commence ment speaker, opera singer Jessye Norman, were scheduled to speak at the commence ment exercises but did not due to the weath er and the shortened ceremony. Norman was one of four to be awarded honorary degrees by the University. She received a doctorate of music before the ceremony. Senior Class President Ashley Shores officially inducted her classmates as UNC alumni with the moving of their tassels from overall." During the next year, RTI International, a nonprofit research firm based out of the Research Triangle Park, will conduct a major study of the Covenant and will be looking at trends, including the number of Covenant scholars who tend to take out loans in addition to their Covenant benefits. Though they do not have a debt burden upon graduation, Ort said this is not a significant advantage. “Covenant scholars have the same advantage that affluent stu dents have," she said. “Only about one-third of students need need based aid so there is only a little advantage." They arc most likely to be able to choose lower-paying jobs that interest them or join the Peace Corps because they wouldn’t be approaching loan payments." Ort said. John Florin, an associate profes sor of geography, said he supports the program because though he sees UNC as relatively inexpensive. Covenant opens up the opportunity of higher education at one of the Democratic Primary Election Results With four state primaries to go, there are only 235 delegates left (including 63 delegates in Puerto Rico). \ - l 7 — > June 3 t May2o (23 > I r^fcyMieoA ,(65) / ® ot>ama u.! 1 soc SOURCE: —— ■ < “ DTH/BLISS PIERCE tion. "I think the signal is clear that Sen. Obama is beginning to put in place the structure of a campaign for the general election, he hasn't claimed that he’s the democratic nominee, he’s been careful to be polite," Guillory said. Obama has spoken at events in right to left. Shores went on to honor Eve Carson and her love for the University. “Eve’s passion for this place.... for all things Carolina, was overpowering and so infectious that you could not help but be more excited about life's possibilities in her presence." Eve Carson was awarded post mortem a degree with highest honors. Other stu dents remembered and honored Carson by donning an “EVE" pin on their graduation gowns. “I'm wearing this because Eve should be here right now," senior Shefali Chudgar said. “We are all thinking about her today." The UNC Clef Hangers also sang James Taylor’s “Carolina In My Mind." After less than 20 minutes, the ceremony ended with graduates singing and swaying to “Hark the Sound." The commencement cer emony typically can last up to two hours. “I’m proud to be a Carolina graduate," senior Kate Cunningham said. “And today's weather just didn't matter. It's really just about the Carolina spirit." Contact the University Editor at udeskfa unc.edu. country’s top public universities to even more people. “I remember when it was first announced that vve were going to have it," he said. “What was excit ing for me was that the mission of this university was to educate all of the citizens of North Carolina. “We are the University of the people, and I really believe that," Florin said. But he does not know if he taught any Covenant scholars. “One of the great things about the program is that we don't know whether they are Covenant scholars unless they tell us,“ he said, imply ing that Covenant students are of the same high caliber as other UNC students. The program has been phased in during the past four years and looks like it is here to stay. “It has brought a renewed sense of our self as a university that pro tects both access and affordability for students who are highly capable but don't have money," Ort said. Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu. states that have already held prima ries, like Michigan and Missouri. Guillory said this tactic could possibly shift the public opinion toward expecting Obama to be the nominee. “They see and hear on TV and SEE PRIMARIES, PAGE 5 McCroiy and Perdue stick to primary goals Both want to focus on issues BY DEVIN ROONEY STATE & NATIONAL EDITOR The Democratic and Republican nominees for governor. Lt. Gov. Bev Perdue and Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory, might be taking a breather on their campaigns, but both candidates plan to keep doing what they felt worked for the at times bitter primary contests. Both McCrory and Perdue have said they want to focus on the issues, though during the primaries the gubernatorial hopefuls didn’t resist attacking their rivals. Perdue has run a campaign that presents her as the candidate who cares about the same Issues that arc important to middle class families. She has tried to drive home to voters the idea that she is a friend of working families “from the mountains to the coast." She has THURSDAY, MAY 15,5200 K Town reacts to blue lights Some residents oppose increases BY DAVE PEARSON STAFF WRITER Chapel Hill might lose a few residents as a result of the Town Council’s May 5 decision to install increased streetlights and emergen cy call boxes in residential areas. The council voted to put street lights and call boxes at locations on Mallette Street and Colony Court. Church and Short streets and a thin! lexation yet to be determined. The project drew sharp criticism from a small-but-vocal group of residents, two of whom threatened to move from the neighborhoods. The addition of new lights has been a part of UNC's student gov ernment agenda for nearly three years and received additional atten tion follow ing the March 5 murder of former Student Body President Eve Carson. But the entire project might be stopped if it fails to get the approval of the Historic District Commission. J.B. Culpepper, the town’s plan ning director, explained to the council that the HDC takes aes thetics into consideration when approving new structures. “If you want to play out hypo thetical, I think the proposal could be denied.” Culpepper said. Student Body President J.J. Raynor and members of previous SBP administrations addressed the council regarding student safety, the student government's desire to work with the town and its residents and the nearly SBO,OOO raised for the project by student fees. “1 know a number of us have been asking ourselves since March 5 if there was anything we could have done to prevent what happened on an individual or community level, and 1 hope that we will never have the opportunity to ask ourselves that question again,’ Raynor said in her speech to the council. The council voted against the alternative installation option, which would have put lights at the intersection of McCauley and Ransom streets, as well. But for McCauley Street resi dent Adrian Halpern. the council's decision to remove only his street from the list was not w hat he was hoping for. “I want no lights,” Halpern shouted from his seat when the council began weighing options, expressing his dislike for both options. SEE BLUE LIGHT. PAGE S % \ i -5 £ % \ mammum * ***** i w* i eSV SOURCE: GOOGLE MAPS DTH/BLISS PIERCE focused her rhetoric on middle class struggles and values. David Kochman, a spokesman for Perdue’s campaign, said she will continue this emphasis, because she believes these issues are what mat ter most to voters in the state. McCrory campaign spokesman Tom Gardner said McCrory also is going to use much the same for mula that worked in the primary. “He’s running a campaign on the issues that the people of North Carolina find important, and I don’t think you're going to find those issues changing much between now and the general election." Gardner also said McCrory will focus on what he called "the culture of corruption’ in Rateigh, public transit, immigration and jobs. Although McCrory plans to focus on the same issues, the cam paign hasn’t yet finalized plans for the next stage of the election. “We’re currently in the process of SEE GOVERNORS, PAGE 5 3
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